Debate Speech: “Keeping Pets should be banned1 in all public housing estates”

Good morning chairperson, adjudicators2, ladies and gentlemen,

As a member of the affirmative side3, I strongly agree to today’s motion4 that “Keeping pets should be
banned in all public estates” due to the following grounds5.

As everybody knows that there has long been a controversial6 issue over the ban on pets in all public
housing estates. However, after the outbreak 7 of SARS and other deadly8 diseases, Hong Kong people
become more vigilant9 towards the outbreak of large scale10 epidemic11 and are reminded of12 the importance
of personal as well as public hygiene13. As a result, it is indispensable14 to implement15 a point system by the
Housing Authority in order to deter16 residents from harming the public sanitation17.

Moreover, it is an irrefutable18 fact that some of the pets can cause a nuisance 19 to the others. Take dogs as
an example. Some dog owners do not tighten20 their dogs by a leash21 but let them bark and defect22
everywhere. It is not merciful23 that some tenants24 are adversely25 affected and disturbed26. Therefore, it is
high time that27 the government should enforce28 the law for the sake of29 terminating30 any tenant’s tenancy31
if one violates32 the law. Apart from33 that, some fierce34 dogs like the bulldogs are dangerous to people.
They may bite the children and the elderly, causing bacteria infection35.

1
Be banned (passive): 被禁止
2
Adjudicators (n): 評判
3
Affirmative side (n): 正方
4
Motion (n): 辯題
5
Grounds (n): 原因
6
Controversial (adj): 富爭議性的
7
Outbreak (n): 爆發
8
Deadly (adj): 致命的
9
Vigilant (adj): 警覺的
10
Large scale (adj): 大規模的
11
Epidemic (adj): 傳染病
12
Reminded of (passive): 被提醒
13
Hygiene (n): 衛生
14
Indispensable (adj): 不可或缺的
15
Implement (v): 推行
16
Deter sb from sth (common exp.): 阻嚇某人做某事
17
Sanitation (n): 衛生
18
Irrefutable (adj): 不可否認的
19
Nuisance (n): 滋擾
20
Tighten (v): 綁緊
21
Leash (N): 狗帶
22
Defect (v): 弄髒
23
Merciful (adj): 仁慈的
24
Tenant(s) (n): 租戶
25
Adversely (adv): 很壞地
26
Disturbed (passive): 騷擾
27
It is high time that (past subjunctive): 現在時機已成熟….(用 PAST TENSE)
28
Enforce (v): 執行
29
For the sake of (prep. phr.): 為了(後面用 N/GERUND)
30
Terminating (n): 終止
31
Tenancy (n): 租約
32
Violate(s) (v): 違反
33
Apart from (conj): 除了
34
Fierce (adj): 兇猛的
35
Infection (n): 感染
 Someone may claim36 that the system is unfair to some small and obedient37 pets such as rabbits, goldfish,
parrots and tortoises as they seldom upset38 the public hygiene and harmony39. In addition, keeping pets may
be conducive to40 children’s psychological development and beneficial to41 people’s health. These might be
true, but let us not forget that if we were to enact 42 a law with differentiation43 in the definition44 of and
treatment to the pets, further serious45 problems will definitely arise46 and the harm must outweigh47 the
good. When compared with public health and safety, the concern about keeping pets and their benefits are
negligible48.

To conclude, keeping pets in public housing estates is in no way tolerable 49. It is therefore obvious50 that
today’s motion is justifiable51 for the above evidences52. Thank you.

36
Claim (v): 聲稱
37
Obedient (adj): 乖巧的
38
Upset (v): 破壞
39
Harmony (n): 安寧/和諧
40
Conducive to (adj. phr.): 有利於
41
Beneficial to (adj. phr.): 有利於
42
Enact (v): 推行
43
Differentiation(n): 差異
44
Definition (n): 定義
45
Serious (adj): 嚴重的
46
Arise (v): 衍生/出現
47
Outweigh (v): 超出/多於
48
Negligible (adj): 微不足道的
49
Tolerable (adj) 可以忍受的
50
Obvious (adj) 明顯的
51
Justifiable (adj) 能証立的
52
Evidences (n) 証據